Early Permian Palaeoenvironment in Damodar Valley Coalfields, India: an Overview

Abstract

In the Damodar Valley Basin, coalfields containing coal bearing Barakar Formation are Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Karanpura. The Barakar Formation is composed of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, fireclay, and coal. The lower part of Barakar Formation represents a braided channel deposit, and also in few places glacio-fluvial deposit which changes to meandering channel system with the formation of some ox-bow lake, and cut-off channel in the middle part. In a few places deltaic/brackish water condition possibly existed along with this meandering channel system. In the upper part of Barakar Formation, marine signatures are more prominant. Marine signatures/influences have been reported from Barakar Formation of Ramgarh, South Karanpura, and West Bokaro coalfields on the basis of trace fossil assemblage, sedimentation character, and trace element content. Although, definite marine signatures have not been observed from Jharia, and Raniganj coalfields, high concentration of boron, vanadium, and chromium, and presence of skolithos, and thalassinoides burrows possibly suggest a brackish water condition. The upper part clearly suggest that the sediments were deposited in a geographic setting very close to the sea or at the edge of the sea possibly in a peritidal setting where storm activity played a vital role during sedimentation which in turn suggests the presence of a broad shallow sea (epeiric/epicontinental sea) that develop during times of high sea level. The sea water possibly entered from the northeastern side as vast seaways or as embayment through the Damodar Valley which acted as a channel.